Kalin Lucas

SO WHAT IF our brackets, pristine just 2 weeks ago, are now serving as birdcage liner. This NCAA Tournament has been one of the most memorable, especially for most local college hoop fans. With three games remaining in the madness, there are more questions than answers. How much of a disadvantage is it to be a Final Four rookie coach? Has anybody been more impressive away from home than Connecticut? And why does Michigan State coach Tom Izzo think the stars are aligned? Here are 25 things to help survive and advance to Monday night's championship game: 1. Connecticut is the only team whose winning margin has decreased each round.

Unranked Florida opened a 34-6 lead as it coasted to an 86-64 rout of No. 14 Vanderbilt in Gainesville, Fla. Hardly intimidated by a visit from a ranked team, the two-time and defending national champions used a 23-0 run in the first half to seize control. "The first 10 minutes," Gators coach Billy Donovan said, "was as good as we could have played. " The Gators (18-3, 5-1 SEC) got 19 points from Walter Hodge and 15 from Nick Calathes - younger brother of St. Joseph's standout Pat Calathes - in shredding the Commodores (17-3, 2-3)

Raymar Morgan scored eight of his 22 points in a decisive 13-0 run, and fifth-ranked Michigan State survived a scare from host Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne in a 70-59 triumph last night. Michigan State (2-0) led by 32-24 at halftime, but opened the second half making just one of 10 shots. The Spartans fell behind twice by three points against a team that lost its opener to Xavier by 28. Trailing by 44-42, the Spartans took control midway through the second half. The run started with a free throw by Delvon Roe. Kalin Lucas quickly added a 17-foot jumper.

Andre McGee scored a season-high 16 points as No. 6 Louisville edged No. 8 Marquette, 62-58, at home in Kentucky yesterday to keep its hopes for a Big East title alive. The Cardinals (23-5, 14-2 Big East) have won five straight and can clinch at least a share of the regular-season title by winning their final two games. Wesley Matthews led the Golden Eagles (23-6, 12-4) with 19 points. In other Big East action, Jonny Flynn scored 17 points as Syracuse (21-8, 9-7) held Cincinnati (18-11, 8-8)

Freshman Delvon Roe scored 11 of his season-high 14 points in the first half, and Kalin Lucas had 13 of his 15 points after halftime, leading ninth-ranked Michigan State to a 54-42 victory over Michigan last night in Ann Arbor. The Spartans (20-4, 10-2 Big Ten) have won three straight games to open a 2 1/2-game lead over Illinois and Ohio State, moving closer to their first conference championship since 2001. The Wolverines (15-10, 5-7) will have to finish the season strong, after beating Duke and UCLA, to play in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998.

Jason Bohannon scored 19 points to lead No. 16 Wisconsin to a 67-49 home victory over No. 5 Michigan State last night, snapping the Spartans' perfect Big Ten start and leaving them without leading scorer Kalin Lucas. Michigan State (19-4, 9-1) may have lost a lot more than a game: Lucas, last season's Big Ten player of the year, left with just under 11 minutes to play after he came down awkwardly on the foot of Wisconsin's Keaton Nankivil. Having injured his right ankle, Lucas did not return.

Indiana received a list of alleged violations from the NCAA and is expected to make it public today. University trustees president Stephen Ferguson told the Associated Press last night that school officials this week reviewed a report, which stems from impermissible phone calls made by basketball coach Kelvin Sampson and his staff during 2006 and 2007. The NCAA is not expected to make its ruling until this summer. Ferguson would not detail what is contained in the report.

Raymar Morgan scored a season-high 19 points and Kalin Lucas had 13 to help No. 9 Michigan State to a 72-60 victory over visiting Wofford last night. The Spartans (6-2) bounced back from an 89-82 loss at No. 10 North Carolina on Tuesday, but weren't sharp for much of the game. They led, 48-44, midway through the second half. Noah Dahlman led the Terriers (4-5) with 19 points and got the better of his brother, Isaiah, who started and scored two points for Michigan State. Michigan State trailed, 9-4, before a 12-2 run, then led 31-26 at halftime.

Goran Suton had 20 points and nine rebounds and Michigan State was steady from the foul line, rallying to defeat defending NCAA champion Kansas, 67-62, in last night's Midwest Regional semifinals. Kalin Lucas added 18 points for the second-seeded Spartans (29-6). He shot just 5-for-15 from the floor, but made all five of his free throws in the final minute. Overall, Michigan State went 16-for-17 from the line. Michigan State overcame a 13-point deficit in the first half and advanced to play Louisville tomorrow for a trip to the Final Four.

Freshman Delvon Roe scored 11 of his season-high 14 points in the first half and Kalin Lucas had 13 of his 15 points after halftime, leading No. 9 Michigan State to a 54-42 win over host Michigan last night. The Spartans (20-4, 10-2 Big Ten) have won three straight to open a 2 1/2-game lead over Illinois and Ohio State, moving closer to their first conference championship since 2001. The Wolverines (15-10, 5-7) will have to finish the season strong, after beating Duke and UCLA, to play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998.

INDIANAPOLIS - The pundits have spent the 2010 NCAA tournament writing off Michigan State's chances since starting point guard Kalin Lucas suffered a season-ending injury, and Korie Lucious has spent that same time proving them wrong. Lucious, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, took over duties at the point after Lucas went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon in the opening half of the Spartans' second-round game against Maryland. Even though Lucious hit the three-point basket at the buzzer to advance Michigan State into the Sweet 16, he wasn't exactly embraced in the ensuing days by those who felt the Spartans couldn't go any farther with an unproven backup running their offense.

Korie Lucious hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to cap a frenetic finish and give injury-depleted Michigan State an 85-83, second-round victory over Maryland yesterday in the Midwest Regional at at Spokane, Wash. After star guard Kalin Lucas went down with a leg injury, the Spartans blew a 16-point lead in the second half. Greivis Vasquez' basket put Maryland ahead, 83-82, with 6 seconds left, but Michigan State inbounded immediately and rushed up the floor. The ball went to Lucious, Lucas' replacement, at the top of the key and he drained a three just in time, setting off a wild celebration as the jubilant Spartans streamed off the bench.

Jason Bohannon scored 19 points to lead No. 16 Wisconsin to a 67-49 home victory over No. 5 Michigan State last night, snapping the Spartans' perfect Big Ten start and leaving them without leading scorer Kalin Lucas. Michigan State (19-4, 9-1) may have lost a lot more than a game: Lucas, last season's Big Ten player of the year, left with just under 11 minutes to play after he came down awkwardly on the foot of Wisconsin's Keaton Nankivil. Having injured his right ankle, Lucas did not return.

The sign in the stands said it all - "Mr. Downey, Tear Down this Wall. " Did he ever. Devon Downey outplayed John Wall in a matchup of high-powered stars, and host South Carolina knocked off No. 1 Kentucky, 68-62, last night. The Gamecocks, who last hosted a top-ranked team in 1977, beat a No. 1 for the first time ever, in eight tries. "Let's be honest," Downey said. "No one gave us a chance. " Kentucky (19-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference), which ascended to the top spot in the Associated Press poll on Monday, was the last of the unbeatens in college basketball.

Trevor Booker scored 21 points, Demontez Stitt added 20 and No. 24 Clemson broke a 10-game losing streak to No. 12 North Carolina with last night's 83-64 victory. The host Tigers (14-3, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) hadn't beaten the Tar Heels (12-5, 1-1) in nearly 6 years, but used a first-half blitz to lead by 23 points and held on against one of their toughest ACC opponents. Stitt hit Clemson's first two baskets during and Booker had a three-point play to close a 17-6 opening run fewer than 5 minutes in. It was the Tar Heels' fifth loss in six games away from the Smith Center.

Raymar Morgan scored a season-high 19 points and Kalin Lucas had 13 to help No. 9 Michigan State to a 72-60 victory over visiting Wofford last night. The Spartans (6-2) bounced back from an 89-82 loss at No. 10 North Carolina on Tuesday, but weren't sharp for much of the game. They led, 48-44, midway through the second half. Noah Dahlman led the Terriers (4-5) with 19 points and got the better of his brother, Isaiah, who started and scored two points for Michigan State. Michigan State trailed, 9-4, before a 12-2 run, then led 31-26 at halftime.

DETROIT - In a game that matched two teams on a mission, North Carolina found itself fulfilling the wishes of four players who returned after a disappointing Final Four last year to cut down the nets at Ford Field. The Tar Heels built a lead that grew to as many as 24 in the first half tonight, then used it as a cushion to repel any attempts by Michigan State to come back, gaining an 89-72 victory over the Spartans to win the national championship before a record crowd of 72,922.

In Philadelphia or along Tobacco Road, the Connecticut-Michigan State matchup is the "other" Final Four semifinal. But here, where yesterday morning tightly packed legions of Spartans fans in green gear transformed the area outside Ford Field into a massive urban lawn just to watch a practice - we're talkin' practice! - the opener of tonight's doubleheader clearly occupies the top of the bill. "It should be a great game," said MSU coach Tom Izzo, who has won a national title and been to five Final Fours.

SO WHAT IF our brackets, pristine just 2 weeks ago, are now serving as birdcage liner. This NCAA Tournament has been one of the most memorable, especially for most local college hoop fans. With three games remaining in the madness, there are more questions than answers. How much of a disadvantage is it to be a Final Four rookie coach? Has anybody been more impressive away from home than Connecticut? And why does Michigan State coach Tom Izzo think the stars are aligned? Here are 25 things to help survive and advance to Monday night's championship game: 1. Connecticut is the only team whose winning margin has decreased each round.

Goran Suton had 20 points and nine rebounds and Michigan State was steady from the foul line, rallying to defeat defending NCAA champion Kansas, 67-62, in last night's Midwest Regional semifinals. Kalin Lucas added 18 points for the second-seeded Spartans (29-6). He shot just 5-for-15 from the floor, but made all five of his free throws in the final minute. Overall, Michigan State went 16-for-17 from the line. Michigan State overcame a 13-point deficit in the first half and advanced to play Louisville tomorrow for a trip to the Final Four.